Latest news with #InternationalOperationsDivision
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
CBI chargesheets French embassy official for arrange Schengen visas for Punjab applicants in return for money
The CBI has filed a chargesheet against Shubham Shokeen, a law officer in the visa department of the French embassy here, three of his family members and four others, for arranging Schengen visas for applicants from Punjab in return for a substantial amount of money. The CBI is on the lookout for Shokeen, who is understood to have escaped from the country to evade the law. The CBI found that Shokeen targeted applicants from Punjab seeking Schengen visas through a network of agents and induced them to give a huge amount of money for the travel documents. 'A network of visa agents, mostly based in Punjab received money ranging from ₹13 lakh to ₹45 lakh from each visa applicant and in return of these large sums of money, visa applications were processed by the accused and after issuance of Schengen visas, the accused destroyed the visa documents and files,' the CBI has alleged. During its three-year investigation, the CBI coordinated with multiple agencies, including international organisations, to gather evidence in the case resulting in the charge sheet filed before a special CBI court here. Shokeen amassed massive wealth in the form of cash and prime properties in Delhi and Punjab during his tenure in the French embassy between January 2021 and May 2022, the CBI alleged in the charge sheet filed before the additional chief judicial magistrate in the special CBI court. 'To trace the proceeds of crime abroad, the International Operations Division of CBI, in coordination with the International Police Cooperation Unit of CBI, were also successful in getting India's first Interpol Silver notice published in this case,' a CBI spokesperson said. The agency found that visa agents Balwinder Singh Bartia and Pritpal Singh were the key co-conspirators who funnelled the money through various bank accounts, which ultimately reached Shokeen and his family members through two accused middlemen Jashandeep Singh Sidhu and Bhawan Shokeen, the charge sheet alleged.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
French Embassy Visa Scam: CBI charges law officer, 7 others
The CBI has filed a chargesheet against eight individuals, including a law officer in the Visa Department of the French Embassy in New Delhi, for visa fraud. They targeted applicants from Punjab seeking Schengen visas, extorting large sums of money through a network of visa agents. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against eight accused in a visa fraud case including a law officer in the Visa Department of the Embassy of Shubham Shokeen , the law officer, the charge sheet has been filed against his father, brother and wife. Also, two visa agents and two middlemen have been charge-sheeted by the agency, in a press statement released on Wednesday, said that the International Operations Division of CBI, on the basis of inputs of a visa fraud in the Embassy of France, New Delhi, had registered a case."During investigation, it was established that during the period of January, 2021 to May, 2022, while working as local law officer in Visa Department of the Embassy of France, New Delhi, the accused targeted applicants from Punjab seeking Schengen visas , through a network of visa agents and induced them to give huge amount of money for obtaining Schengen visas", the agency said in its press further said that a network of visa agents, mostly based in Punjab, allegedly received money ranging from ₹13 lakh to ₹45 lakhs from each visa applicant and in lieu of these large sums of money, visa applications were processed by the accused and after issuance of Schengen visas, the accused destroyed the visa documents and agency claims to have recovered large amounts of cash and multiple documents related to properties worth crores, acquired in India and abroad, from various locations in Punjab and Delhi. The CBI has alleged that two accused Visa agents were the key co-conspirators who funnelled the money through various bank accounts, which ultimately reached the accused local law officer, his kin through two accused order to trace the proceeds of crime abroad, the International Operations Division of CBI, in coordination with International Police Cooperation Unit of CBI were also successful in getting India's first Silver notice published in this case, the agency said. A silver notice is a new type of color-coded notice that focuses on tracing and recovering criminal assets globally.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
CBI files chargesheet against eight accused in French visa fraud case
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against eight accused persons in a visa fraud case, including the then local law officer in the visa department of the Embassy of France in New Delhi, his brother, father, and wife. Among those arraigned are the then local law officer Shubham Shokeen, his brother Abhishek, father Samunder Singh, and wife Aarti Choudhary; visa agents Balwinder Singh Bartia and Pritpal Singh, and middlemen Jashandeep Singh Sidhu and Bhawan Shokeen. Based on the inputs received from the French Embassy, the CBI's International Operations Division registered the case. During the probe, it found that from January 2021 to May 2022, while working as a local law officer in the visa department of the embassy, Mr. Shokeen targeted applicants from Punjab seeking Schengen visas, through a network of visa agents. 'A network of visa agents, mostly based in Punjab, received money ranging from ₹13 lakh to ₹45 lakh from each visa applicant and in lieu of these large sums of money, visa applications were processed by the accused and after issuance of Schengen visas, the accused destroyed the visa documents and files,' the agency said. 'During investigation, huge amounts of cash and multiple documents related to properties worth crores acquired in India and abroad were found at various locations in Punjab and Delhi. Two accused visa agents were the key co-conspirators who funnelled the money through various bank accounts, which ultimately reached the accused Local Law Officer and his family members: brother, father, and wife through the two accused middlemen,' the CBI stated. In order to trace the proceeds of crime abroad, the International Operations Division, in coordination with the International Police Cooperation Unit of the CBI, was also successful in getting India's first Interpol Silver Notice published in the case. On May 23, the Silver Notice was issued against Mr. Shokeen. 'He acquired six immovable properties worth 7,760,500 Dirhams (₹15,73,51,250) at Dubai, United Arab Emirates, using the proceeds of crime. Earlier, the CBI also got a Blue Notice published against the same subject to trace his whereabouts,' the agency had said earlier.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
CBI charge sheet against French embassy official for arranging Schengen visa
New Delhi, The CBI has filed a charge sheet against Shubham Shokeen, a law officer in the visa department of the French embassy here, three of his family members and four others, for arranging Schengen visas for applicants from Punjab in return for a substantial amount of money. The CBI is on the lookout for Shokeen, who is understood to have escaped from the country to evade the law. The CBI found that Shokeen targeted applicants from Punjab seeking Schengen visas through a network of agents and induced them to give a huge amount of money for the travel documents. "A network of visa agents, mostly based in Punjab received money ranging from ₹13 lakh to ₹45 lakh from each visa applicant and in return of these large sums of money, visa applications were processed by the accused and after issuance of Schengen visas, the accused destroyed the visa documents and files," the CBI has alleged. During its three-year investigation, the CBI coordinated with multiple agencies, including international organisations, to gather evidence in the case resulting in the charge sheet filed before a special CBI court here. Shokeen amassed massive wealth in the form of cash and prime properties in Delhi and Punjab during his tenure in the French embassy between January 2021 and May 2022, the CBI alleged in the charge sheet filed before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in the Special CBI court. "To trace the proceeds of crime abroad, the International Operations Division of CBI, in coordination with the International Police Cooperation Unit of CBI, were also successful in getting India's first Interpol Silver notice published in this case," CBI spokesperson said. The agency found that visa agents Balwinder Singh Bartia and Pritpal Singh were the key co-conspirators who funnelled the money through various bank accounts, which ultimately reached Shokeen and his family members through two accused middlemen Jashandeep Singh Sidhu and Bhawan Shokeen, the charge sheet alleged.
United News of India
03-05-2025
- United News of India
CBI busts child sexual abuse networks as part of Op Hawk
Kolkata, May 3 (UNI) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has busted cybercrime networks in parts of India allegedly involving online child sexual exploitation with international linkages after the federal agency received inputs from the USA, official sources said. " On the basis of inputs received from the USA , the CBI launched Operation Hawk and successfully dismantled the cybercrime networks involving online child sexual exploitation with international linkages," the CBI said. The International Operations Division of CBI registered a case against one Sheik Muizz Ahmed under section 506 of Indian Penal Code as well as section 66D of Information Technology Act, 2000 and section 12 read with section 11 of POCSO Act, 2012 and launched investigation to detect the cybercrime network involving online sexual exploitation. During March, 2024, accused Sheikh Muizz Ahmed, a resident of Mangalore, operated through social media platform 'Discord' under the username 'heisenberg7343' and engaged in online chats with " a minor girl from the US." During chats, the accused induced the minor girl to engage in sexualized chats with him and he further enticed her to share her obscene images/videos with him over the said platform, the CBI said. "The accused also intimidated the minor victim to engage in obscene sexual activities online," the federal agency stated. Following registration of the case, the CBI conducted extensive searches at various locations in Mumbai and Mangalore linked to the accused leading to recovery of electronic devices viz mobile phone and laptop which contained CSAM obtained by the accused from the minor girl victim by way of inducement. Accused Sheikh Muizz Ahmed was arrested by the CBI and sent to judicial custody. The International Operations Division of CBI registered another case against Mukul Saini under section 506 of Indian Penal Code as well as section 67 of Information Technology Act, 2000 and section 12 read with sections 11 and 15 of POCSO Act, 2012 and launched investigation. During the period 2023-2024, accused Mukul Saini, resident of Delhi operated through social media platform 'Discord' vide IDs 'Izumi#9412', 'Izumi#7070', 'Deadddd#6873' and 'Arisu' and engaged in online chats with a minor girl from USA. During chats, the accused induced the minor girl to engage in sexualized chats with him and share her obscene images/videos with him over the said platform, the federal agency said. The accused also intimidated the minor victim to continue sharing her obscene images/videos, otherwise he will make her obscene images/videos viral on the internet. The investigation agency then conducted extensive searches at various locations in Delhi linked to the accused leading to recovery of electronic devices via mobile phones and computer hard disks containing incriminating digital evidence relating to the case. Earlier, the CBI had launched Operation CARBON in 2021 and Operation Megh Chakra in 2022 as part of its efforts for rapid response to online child sexual exploitation cases with international linkages and trace accused, suspects and conspirators, located across international jurisdictions, requiring a globally coordinated law enforcement response. UNI PC PRS
